Friday, 9 October 2015

10 October 2015

Collects

Prayers
developed from the daily readings

Saturday 10
October 2015

Morning
Prayer

Psalms
92 and 93

In
the first psalm God’s faithfulness and steadfast love is praised. On this
occasion the King’s enemies have failed in some other place and are no more.
Everything has been restored. The righteous people prosper.

In
the second psalm God’s greatness is praised – more powerful than floods, more
powerful than the seas. God’s commandments are sure and God lives in holiness.

2 Kings 1

King Ahaziah of Israel
falls through a lattice and lays injured. He sends messengers to consult the
Baal of Ekron whether he will recover. Elijah is visited by the angel of the
Lord who tells him to go and meet the messengers and to ask them, “is it
because there is no god in Israel that you travel to Ekron?” and to tell them
Ahaziah will not leave his bed but will die.

The messengers return to
Ahaziah who is surprised by their arrival. They tell the story of meeting the
man. Ahaziah asks them to describe the man and he recognises from their answer
this is Elijah.

He sends a captain with 50
troops to bring Elijah to him. Elijah is on a hill. The captain calls out, ‘O
man of God, the king says come down.” Elijah replies that if he is a man of God
let fire come down and consume the captain and the fifty troops. It does and
they perish. This happens a second time. On the third occasion the captain begs
Elijah to treat his life and the life of his troops as precious. The angel of
the Lord tells Elijah to not be afraid and go with them. Elijah goes to the
King and tells him that he will die. Sometime later the King dies and his
brother Jehoram becomes King of Israel. (He is not to be confused with King
Jehoram the son of Jehosophat in Judah).

Matthew
12: 38 – 50

The
Pharisees and scribes ask for a sign from Jesus. As with the temptation in the
wilderness Jesus doesn’t “do signs”. God works through Jesus. If Jesus controls
the signs and miracles the Pharisees and scribes will focus on Him not on God –
just like adultery. The sign they will see is the sign of Jonah being
definitely lost for three days – Jonah in a whale – restored, Jesus dead and
buried –resurrected. Both of these are only in the power and will of God. And
the Pharisees and scribes are blind – they want God to fit their formularies.
Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba’s eyes are more open.

Next
Jesus talks about someone exorcised but who does not take the risk and commit –
who does not fill up the inner self with God. The demons return with reinforcements.
It is only through following Jesus, through doing the will of God that we
become brothers and sisters of Christ and the demons cannot get a stronghold.

Collect for
Morning Prayer

Free to surf the windLake Mulwala NSW L Osburn

Holy God of power, love and mystery, you are the
source of all wonder and freedom. Help us to focus on you alone and your
gracious gifts of love so that we fill our hearts and souls with you, do your
will and love you as our closest and most precious parent through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saturday 10
October 2015

Evening
Prayer

Psalm
94

The
psalmist calls people to remember that God does can and will act for the
righteous. We are all reminded that nothing is hidden from God who formed all
ears and all types of eyes. Will God not be able to see or hear what we are up
to? The psalmist writes that disciplined believers are blessed, that the Lord
is there for them and consoles. The Lord helps.

Job 34: 1 – 15

Elihu continues offering
that God does not act unjustly. God does no wrong and if God were to take his
spirit back from us and return it to his own breath, all flesh would perish. We
would all turn to dust.

Philemon 15 – 25

Paul continues entreating Philemon
to take back Onesimus as a beloved brother, not as a slave and Paul offers to
pay anything that Onesimus might owe Philemon.Paul indicates that he will visit and sends greetings from those
imprisoned with him and fellow workers.

Collect for
Evening Prayer

Fine magnoliasHarrietville Vic L Osburn

Holy and adored God, you know us thoroughly and always
act with justice and righteousness. We thank you that you gave your own Son to
buy us back from slavery to sin and to free us to be your children. Be with us
as we consider how blessed you have made us so that we feel your deep
consolation and are energised to pass that on to others in the days to come through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our
hearts. Amen.